Polar Bear

Siku's back, and this time he's making snow angels, and maybe eating a little bit of snow while he's at it! The 73 day old, 10.5 kilogram sensation from the Scandinavian Wildlife Park of Djursland had some time outdoors and posed for another outstanding photo session. We just had to share it! Siku means “Sea ice” in Greenlandic language.

After a precarious start to life, a now 3 ½ month old male Polar Bear cub was introduced today at Toronto Zoo. This energetic young cub represents a heartwarming journey of survival, one where expert Toronto Zoo Wildlife Health staff worked around the clock to save a vulnerable species. The cub has successfully reached many milestones in his young life and is a great ambassador for a species in need of public education and support.

Photo credit: Toronto Zoo

"This has been an interesting and challenging case for the Zoo and a valiant and dedicated team effort of both the Wildlife Health Centre and Wildlife Care staff," said John Tracogna, the Zoo's Chief Executive Officer. "Ultimately, it has been a rewarding journey for everyone involved, and we are happy to introduce an active and healthy Polar Bear cub, our new Arctic ambassador to help share our conservation message with our visitors."

Learn about the cub's rocky start and about the zoo's naming contest beneath the fold...

The Scandinavian Wildlife Park of Djursland's (southeast of Kolind, Denmark) female Polar Bear, Ilka, gave birth to a single male cub on November 22. After two days the park decided to immobilize Ilka, because the cub was constantly screaming and very unsettled. Ilka could not produce milk, so instead of leaving the cub to die, keepers decided to try to bottle feed him. Siku is now 32 days old, and weighs 3,200 grams.

Photo and video credit: Scandinavian Wildlife Park of Djursland

The cub's name is SIKU, which means “Sea ice” in Greenlandic language. The name is symbolic, because Polar Bears are 100% dependant on sea ice for their survival. Polar bears catch all their prey from the sea ice, so no sea ice - no Polar Bears. With sea ice in the Arctic Sea rapidly diminishing, the latest forecasts predict that the Polar Bear may be almost extinct in the wild 40 years from now.

The Scandinavian Wildlife Park of Djursland has been raising Siku, a one month old Polar Bear cub, by hand since his mother was unable to provide enough milk for him. Since birth, the cub has more than doubled in weight, and Zoo officials say little Siku is doing fine. Park Manager Frank Vigh-Larsen says the tiny cub was just two days old by the time it became clear he would not survive without intervention. Three keepers give Siku around the clock care to ensure he continues to grow and develop healthily.

On October 16, three tiny Polar Bear cubs were born at Toronto Zoo to 10 year-old female Polar Bear Aurora. Typically, Polar Bear births occur in November and early December, so this birth is perhaps the earliest captive birth on record. Sadly, two of the three cubs did not survive the first 48 hours after their birth.

The remaining male cub was taken into intensive care where he'll receive round the clock veterinarian care until it is established that he is thriving and growing.

Aurora, the cub's mother, remains on exhibit in the Tundra Trek at the zoo with twin female Nikita and male Inukshuk.

Polar bear twins Aleut and Gregory made their debut at Nuremberg Zoo yesterday, March 23rd, and it wasn't long before they were swimming happily with Mom for the first time. The cubs were born December 2nd and were left for many weeks undisturbed and in the care of experienced Mom Vera in a secluded den. A week ago, keepers noticed mother Vera's increasing interest in the door to the outside enclosure. With the cubs having been given their vaccinations and the outdoor enclosure checked for safety, there was nothing in the way of a grand debut. Aleut and Gregory are siblings of Flocke, the famous Nuremberg Polar Bear.

On Thursday, Rotterdam Zoo visitors had the priviledge of seeing Polar Bear cub Vicks, born December 6th, explore the outside world for the first time. The cub, whose sex is still unknown, had spent the first months of life in a maternity den with mother Olinka. The increasingly precocious cub spent the day frolicking around the exhibit and even had his first swimming lesson.

Just last week, Aalborg Zoo keepers finally succeeded in separating a very muddy cub from mom Malik in the birth den for an overdue veterinary examination. Not surprisingly, mom and cub were not happy about this as evidenced by the cubs feisty resistance in these photos. However, the examination went swiftly taking only 4 minutes, during which time the cub was weighed (already 35lbs / 15kg!), the gender was determined (it's a boy!), and a DNA sample was obtained. The Aalborg Zoo explained "When the cub returned to mom, it didn't take long until it seemed as happy and adventorous as before the weird incident. Afterwards the zookeepers handfed the cub with a special treat: dried figs, and this offer wasn't refused."

Photo credits: Sussi Køber

More pictures and video of the cub playing outside below the fold, or see previous ZooBorns coverage of the little guy from March 1st and February.